There are living
prophets and apostles upon the earth who receive revelation to guide The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We
are blessed to be able to hear their counsel every six months during general
conference. Their counsel reflects the
will of the Lord and what He wants us – as a Church and as individuals - to
know and do. The counsel received from
prophets and apostles can help us with the challenges we face in life. We definitely can learn much from living
prophets and apostles.
The following scriptures tell us
why we should listen to the prophets and apostles during general conference and
study their words later when they are printed in the Ensign, New Era, Friend, or Liahona
or when they are published at this site.
Limhi, a king in ancient
America, asked a man named Ammon if he knew anyone who could translate
languages. Ammon replied that he knew a
king who had some “interpreters,” which he could use to translate whatever God
wanted him to translate. He said that a
man with this ability is called a “seer.”
King Limhi said that “a seer is greater than a prophet,” but Ammon
corrected him by saying that “a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a
gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of
God, which no man can; yet a man may have a great power given him from God” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus
Christ, Mosiah 8:16-18).
A
modern revelation was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith during a special
conference of elders of the Church, held at Hiram, Ohio, on November 1,
1831. In this revelation, the Lord said,
“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and
though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but
shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my
servants, it is the same” (Doctrine and
Covenants 1:38).
Another modern revelation received
through the Prophet Joseph Smith in November 1831 explains that any instruction
given under the influence of the Holy Ghost becomes scripture. “And this is the ensample unto them, that
they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
“And whatsoever they shall speak
when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the
Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be
the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:3-4).
In a recent general conference, President
Thomas S. Monson spoke of the reasons why members of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints gather together in general conference twice each year
(April and October): “My beloved
brothers and sisters, as we gather once again in a general conference of the
Church, I welcome you and express my love to you. We meet each six months to strengthen one
another, to extend encouragement, to provide comfort, to build faith. We are here to learn. Some of you may be seeking answers to
questions and challenges you are experiencing in your life. Some are struggling with disappointments or
losses. Each can be enlightened and
uplifted and comforted as the Spirit of the Lord is felt.
“Should there be changes which
need to be made in your life, may you find the incentive and the courage to do
so as you listen to the inspired words which will be spoken. May each of us resolve anew to live so that
we are worthy sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. May we continue to oppose evil wherever it is
found.”
President Monson spoke about the
blessings we enjoy in these latter days, particularly the blessings of
technology, which allow people to participate in general conference no matter
where they are in the world. “We come
together as one, speaking many languages, living in many lands, but all of one
faith and one doctrine and one purpose….
“Now, my brothers and sisters,
we have come to be instructed and inspired.
Many messages will be shared during the next two days. I can assure you that those men and women who
will address you have sought heaven’s help and direction as they have prepared
their messages. They have been inspired
concerning that which they will share with us.
“Our Heavenly Father is mindful
of each of us and our needs. May we be
filled with His Spirit as we partake of the proceedings of this conference…”
(“As We Gather Once Again,” Ensign, May
2012, pp. 4-5).
Prophets, seers, and revelators
today testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel just as the ancient prophets
did. They tell us the will of God and
teach us His true character. They boldly
denounce sin and warn of its consequences.
Sometimes, they even warn us of future events.
When President Monson spoke in
our most recent general conference, he counseled us to be obedient to the
commandments of God. “There is no need
for you or for me, in this enlightened age when the fulness of the gospel has
been restored, to sail unchartered seas or to travel unmarked roads in search
of truth. A loving Heavenly Father has
plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide – even obedience. A knowledge of
truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient
to the commandments of God….
“Obedience is a hallmark of
prophets; it has provided strength and knowledge to them throughout the
ages. It is essential for us to realize
that we, as well, are entitled to this source of strength and knowledge. It is readily available to each of us today
as we obey God’s commandments…” (“Obedience Brings Blessings,” Ensign, May 2013).
I encourage you to join me in
studying the words of the living prophets and apostles by reading or listening to their talks here or by reading
them in the Church magazines. I
encourage you to prepare for our next general conference by making a list of
the challenges and questions you want to receive counsel about and then listen
for your answers when the prophets and apostles speak.
I am very grateful for my
membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for I know that
we are led by living prophets and apostles.
I know that these men are called to speak for the Lord, just as Moses,
Isaiah, Peter, Paul, Nephi, Alma, Mormon, and other prophets and apostles of
the scriptures. I know that we are led
by a prophet of God, even President Thomas S. Monson, under the direction of
Jesus Christ. I know that President
Monson is a prophet, seer, and revelator, and I know that he is the only person
on the earth who receives revelation to guide the entire Church. I know that he is assisted by his counselors
in the First Presidency and by the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
whom we also sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators. I know that we can all benefit from following
the counsel given by prophets and apostles.
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